What's in a Name?

What’s in a Name?

Greetings, all!

I really wanted to share the story of how my roommate, Cindy, got her name. It’s actually a really great story, I think… : )

When I asked Cindy why the Chinese had “English names” along with their original Chinese names, she said it was simply so that Western people could pronounce their names. It makes sense, I suppose, since Cindy’s real name is Xinying (or something like that). I can’t pronounce it, let alone spell it.

Cindy also said that one’s English name isn’t given to them by their parents, like their original Chinese name, but rather they choose it themselves. So I asked Cindy how she chose her English name.

She said she picked it when she was in middle school, and back then her name wasn’t Cindy, but rather Cinderella. At one point, her name was Apple to match her friend Watermelon, but finally settled on Cinderella. When she got older, it was suggested that she change her name to a more formal one, and Cindy was a good shortened version of Cinderella. And that is how she became Cindy!

At my school, IFT, I’ve filled out numerous forms that have asked for both my given name and my English name (I leave English name blank, since my given name IS my English name). Because IFT is a Westernized college, all students are required to have an English name. When they begin working in the great casinos in Macau, they will meet many foreign tourists that won’t be able to pronounce their Chinese names, so they take on English names as sort of a business practice.

I’ve seen some interesting names at IFT, such as Fanaurios, Wax, and Elky. However, most of them have pretty normal names, like Brian, Andrew, Emily, and Sophie (there’s a lot of Sophies, actually).

I’m not sure how I would feel changing my name to make it easier for others to pronounce. I mean, Kati is my identity! Going by any other name is practically unimaginable to me! My parents have nicknames for me, but I think that’s different. I mean “Kate” isn’t all that different, and “Pooh Bear” (yeah, I know…) isn’t something I’ve been called since childhood.

I actually admire their willingness to change their name. It shows China’s desire to become a more “globalized” nation by putting themselves out there like that. Some could argue that the Chinese are compromising their culture identity in the attempt to become a first-world country, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think it just illustrates China’s understanding of the state of our technology-aged world, which is currently dominated by Western cultural values. If China truly wants to make themselves a prominent nation in today’s market, they have to make the small sacrifices that allow them to be more globally competitive.

Something like going by a different name might seem a little insignificant. But I think one would be surprised by the networking and business opportunities such an act could open up, especially for a Chinese person trying to succeed in a Western-dominated business world.

Just some food for thought.

Kati



Cinderella in her castle. :)